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Dracula Origin - A First Look #324418
05/09/08 04:37 PM
05/09/08 04:37 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,693
Isle of Man
gremlin Offline OP
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What have we here?

Dracula! One of the most terrifying names in European mythology, and yet one which inspires so many teens to wear black and red, put on heavy make-up and stay out of the sun. The idea of the vampire has been the seed for so many stories; it's such an attractive, subversive image – great power, immortality and the complete sociopath. But at the same time, such intriguing weaknesses: garlic, sunlight, holy water, mirrors, and the stake. Out of such contradictions are great characters woven.

And so we also find a fertile seedbed for games: Castlevania, Legacy of Kain, Pathologic, Vampire: The Masquerade (and others called Vampire), Bloodrayne, Dark Angel, all in just the past five years. And that's before we consider the Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Van Helsing spin-off games!

Now, we have a new game Dracula Origin, this time in the point-n-click genre, developed by Frogwares, and published by The Adventure Company. This means that it is a third-person game, in pre-rendered scenes (but with a certain amount of live animation for flavouring), with good technical presentation, and high production values.

Notes from a short journey

In this game, you take the part of Professor Van Helsing, the vampire hunter, and we begin with a letter from Jonathon Harker, regarding his investigations in Transylvania and a request that Van Helsing take care of Mina, in London. The plot seems taken directly from Bram Stoker's classic tale of Count Dracula. The cast list most certainly is.

So, to the game itself, what do we have? A richly rendered environment of Victorian London (to begin with). A very Sherlock Holmes-ian aesthetic of subdued colours and somewhat ectomorphic human characters. Think Kate Moss or Richard E. Grant. The colours are muted, but the environments are realistic, detailed, and absorbing. Not everything is click-able, but much is.

It is nice to note that someone at the Adventure Company or Frogwares is paying attention to the frequent complaints of game reviewers about the quality of voice acting in many games around at the moment. The characters that I encountered have a variety of well executed accents. Even the cockney gravedigger – a time-honoured accent for really getting wrong! My only complaint here is that there appeared to be no attempt to make the characters lip-sync the dialogue, and their expressions are fixed too. This is a disappointment when compared to the rest of the technical presentation.

What about the puzzles? Well, in my relatively short time with the game, I saw a mapping puzzle, a research puzzle, a combination lock, some inventory puzzles, and a number of mechanical puzzles. There was quite a range in only the first few hours of the game. None were particularly difficult, but all quite logical and satisfying in their way.

Actually, I nearly gave up playing when I was first defeated by a series of mechanical puzzles in a graveyard. I thought I'd seen enough to write my first impressions. But then I found myself dragged back to the game. I had to solve those puzzles. And I did it, too, and was glad I did. The particular puzzles are no more complicated than those in Pandora's Box, but like that game, it is nonetheless, satisfying to complete them.

Jumping to conclusions?

To conclude, I think that the early part of Dracula Origin reminds me strongly of the experience of gaming in the village of Valadilène in Syberia. I would be very glad to see the rest of this game live up to such a benchmark.

Gremlin

Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: gremlin] #324422
05/09/08 04:40 PM
05/09/08 04:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 26,918
Stony Brook, New York, USA
Becky Offline
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Thanks for a great intro to this game! The puzzles sound particularly intriguing. wave

Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: gremlin] #324423
05/09/08 04:42 PM
05/09/08 04:42 PM
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 69,973
MaG Offline
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bravo gremlin! Thank you! You described it so well.

Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: MaG] #324432
05/09/08 04:56 PM
05/09/08 04:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,022
Northeast NJ
Darleen03 Offline
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Thanks, Gremlin

It good to get a first look into the game..I really am not good at mechanical puzzles...But I will give it a shot..

Thank Goodness for the help we get at GB's grin


Luv Dar


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Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: Darleen03] #324439
05/09/08 05:12 PM
05/09/08 05:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,268
In the Naughty Corner
BrownEyedTigre Offline
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Excellent Gremlin!

Ana wave


Don't feed the Trolls
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: gremlin] #324476
05/09/08 06:45 PM
05/09/08 06:45 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
GB Reviewer Glitches Moderator
Jenny100  Offline
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Thanks for the preview Gremlin. The game sounds very promising.
Originally Posted By: gremlin
It is nice to note that someone at the Adventure Company or Frogwares is paying attention to the frequent complaints of game reviewers about the quality of voice acting in many games around at the moment. The characters that I encountered have a variety of well executed accents. Even the cockney gravedigger – a time-honoured accent for really getting wrong!
I think you have to credit Frogwares for that. Their Sherlock Holmes games between Mystery of the Mummy and Nemesis weren't published by Adventure Company and both had better than average voice acting.

Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: Jenny100] #324485
05/09/08 07:00 PM
05/09/08 07:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,541
Brazil
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Brazil
Thanks Gremlin thumbsup

Love Maria hearts


Yes,though i go through the valley of deep shade,i will have no fear of evil;for you are with me, your rod and your support are my comfort. Salmo23:4
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: Phoebe] #324557
05/09/08 10:13 PM
05/09/08 10:13 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,312
United Kingdom
Mad Offline
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United Kingdom
Hi gremlin smile

A very tasty dish you set before us !! thumbsup

I was really looking forward to this game - and I am more than ever now thanks

Cheers.

Mad happydance


Time : The Most Precious Commodity
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: Mad] #324582
05/09/08 11:10 PM
05/09/08 11:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,310
Larnaca, Cyprus
Butcher Offline
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Thank you very much for this preview! Awaiting anxiously for the game now smile

Spyros


"Cannot The Kingdom Of Salvation Take Me Home?"

R.I.P Cliff Burton
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: Butcher] #324681
05/10/08 07:38 AM
05/10/08 07:38 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 22
Scotland
Azleaann Offline
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Scotland
Hi Gremlin...by "third-person game"..are we talking a swivelling camera view ? ..i.e. a sea sickness feeling for us sensitive types wave

Az




I'm not sure what I've done, but I'm sure I shouldn't of done it... ;\)
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: Azleaann] #324682
05/10/08 07:52 AM
05/10/08 07:52 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,693
Isle of Man
gremlin Offline OP
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No, the camera positions were fixed throughout the parts I was playing.

Gremlin

Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: gremlin] #324734
05/10/08 09:34 AM
05/10/08 09:34 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,766
FT. Worth ....Where the West b...
infernoj13usa Offline
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FT. Worth ....Where the West b...
I've been a huge vampire fan since I was a small child. This looks wonderful

inferno


Watching: Dark Shadows
Reading: Angelique's Descent
Playing: WoW and living in Kil' Jaeden
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: infernoj13usa] #324745
05/10/08 10:03 AM
05/10/08 10:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 158
Piraeus/Greece
Taurnil Offline
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Really nice presentation gremlin! I am really intrigued by two things: The game is 3rd person and secondly the early impression when you compare it with Valadilene! I'm on cloud nine!

happydance

Last edited by Taurnil; 05/10/08 10:04 AM.

....set the controls for the heart of the sun....
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: Taurnil] #324892
05/10/08 03:11 PM
05/10/08 03:11 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,849
Indiana
marie Offline
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Great preview Gremlin bravo, I preordered the game today.
Marie broccoli

Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: marie] #325537
05/12/08 05:45 AM
05/12/08 05:45 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 14,334
West London, UK
JennyP Offline
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JennyP  Offline
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Thanks Gremlin, I already pre ordered this & now looking forward to it more than ever!


When in doubt, cuddle a catcatrub
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: gremlin] #326356
05/13/08 10:53 AM
05/13/08 10:53 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 233
H
HEMLOCK Offline
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thanks Gremlin! I haven't played a new Adventure game in quite awhile. This sounds like my cup of tea, looking forward to it.

Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: JennyP] #327292
05/14/08 04:13 PM
05/14/08 04:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,262
Massachusetts
GBC Offline
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Thanks gremlin...looking forward to this game. I have it pre-ordered also . I enjoy puzzles in a game along with a good story line and this one is looking good.


Gail
Re: Dracula Origin - A First Look [Re: GBC] #328345
05/16/08 11:42 AM
05/16/08 11:42 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,834
Québec
Chief Offline
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And if you want to have another first look at the game, see this TRAILER

Chief wave


Chief
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